From overweight teen to weight-loss coach, an Ontario man’s life changed dramatically over the course of just two years.
Today, the 22-year-old has a brand new lease on his own health and well-being and is sharing his wisdom with the world on social media.
Before his 200-pound (90 kg) weight loss and fitness transformation, Omar Thaher of Mississauga told CTV News that he hadn’t been close to a “normal” weight since the age of 6. After accruing multiple failed attempts to lose the excess weight, Omar lost heart.
At 19 years old, peaking at 438 pounds (198 kg), something snapped. “I really just got fed up,” he told the news outlet.
Failing to gain mastery over his weight had left “a lot of baggage,” he said.
“It was leaving weight on my shoulders,” he added. “I was not doing well.”
Noticing that his mental and physical health was falling into decline, Omar decided to go all-in. He cut down on processed foods and empty calories, integrating healthier food choices into his diet and hitting the gym.
Having succeeded in kick-starting a healthy lifestyle, Omar found the next challenge was making it stick. Yet as the pounds dropped off, Omar discovered that being and feeling healthier was its own reward.
“It was kind of more than a body transformation. It was a whole life transformation for me,” he told the outlet.
“My focus right now is kind of just doing what makes me happy.”
In April 2020, Omar compiled a montage of his two-year weight-loss experience, uploading the video to TikTok and amassing over 50 million views, with the affirmation, “I trusted the process and never gave up.”
The coach now shares regular motivational posts with his combined 450,000 followers on both TikTok and Instagram.
For paying clients, Omar designs bespoke meal and workout plans. He feels “grateful” that overcoming his own health struggles means he can now share his wisdom with others.
“It’s a huge, positive feeling,” he told CTV News. “It gives more meaning to my life.”
Having relegated negative thoughts and bad habits to the past, Omar is even able to tackle his next challenge with his head held high: the excess skin that remains after losing so much weight so quickly.
Omar, who experiences discomfort while working out and can’t wear the clothes he wants to, needs skin removal surgery. The surgery could cost thousands of dollars, but the coach remains focused on the good.
With his newfound confidence, he is also planning to realize a dream in 2021: to release some original music. Omar hopes his confidence is contagious.
“If you feel like you can’t get a handle on your weight, or you feel like you don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel, I want to say it’s there,” he told CTV News.
“You just have to stay consistent, stay dedicated, and believe in yourself.”
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